Buy a doll without having a character in mind?

[lolkat]

I had an image of a doll pop into my head, found the mold I wanted and I'm waiting for him to arrive, but I have to admit I don't have a concrete personality in mind or even a name. I do have OCs I just don't want them in doll form, so when it comes to dolls I tend to fall for molds and the personality comes after.

I'm just wondering how many other people have bought dolls this way. It seems a lot of people use dolls to 'shell' characters and while my first doll has certainly developed a character of her own when I bought her I didn't have one in mind at all, I just knew I wanted a Zaoll.

[aernath]

Quite a lot. :)
I run into that from doing the "ooo, pretty!" form of purchasing. Sometimes, it takes a while for me to find their name. Sphaler-dude. Had him now for months, and still no name. He's hoarding it like a jewel. :XD
But yes, most of my collection are dolls that I just fell in love with and had to have. Once they get home, we do the "okay, who are you" game. Although, some times I know names and have a feel for the character right from the start, from seeing the seller's or company's photos. :)

[AmyAngel]

Part of mine the character was there and I had to find the sculpt... but many of them I found the sculpt and then came up with the character, usually while waiting for it to arrive. Both ways work for me. Some are pretty fast to come together (good, since I rarely buy a doll without having at least a basic idea of who it is and how it fits in) but some take more time. My Xi-Aliester, for example, was a great marketplace deal, and in just a few minutes after seeing him I decided he'd make a great pirate, and my existing crew needed adversaries, and a pirate crew would work great for that. So I got him, and now there are a swarm of pirates here. I got my Minifee Woosoo head just because they weren't selling bodies separately (thinking if he didn't fit I'd just sell the head), and I didn't know who or what he was at all until his faceup was done, and I went through all the spare clothes and tried things on him. He ended up an aspiring rock star bartender, LOL!

[toshirodragon]

*waves hand*

Neither my Aida, Yuu, Afra or Jace came her for any reason except "OMG! MUST have!" :lol

But by the time they arrived I had names and a feel for their characters, except the Aida, who turned out to be too sweet for what I had in mind and the Afra, which was a total impulse buy. And it didn't take long before I had it worked out how they fit in, who they were related to and why they were here..

[MissTink]

my dolls also came without personalities. names, i tried hard to come up with before they arrived, i somehow liked it better that way to be able to say "omg! soandso is here!"

i have had my boy for a year in may and have just probably in the last few months given him and my girls a more solid story. ^^; pretty pathetic but hey.

[Tygati]

I'm another one of the "Zomg pretty, must have!" school of dolly buying, and I either figure out who they are while waiting for them to ship (I'm looking at you, SOOM) or after they get home. ^_^

[s0yuz]

Yep, none of my dolls came to me with any story or personality. Sometimes I get an idea of how they should be after taking them out of the box, and sometimes never. But that doesn't mean I adore them any less.

Sometimes, I'm a bit confused why people will say "I would like X doll, really really really, but X doll doesn't fit any character I have," particularly if its in regards to a limited. But, then, I suppose some people are very attached to their particular characters and seeing them en-dolled than giving into "OMG WANT NAO." :D

[toshirodragon]

Sometimes, I'm a bit confused why people will say "I would like X doll, really really really, but X doll doesn't fit any character I have," particularly if its in regards to a limited. But, then, I suppose some people are very attached to their particular characters and seeing them en-dolled than giving into "OMG WANT NAO." :D

Or the ones that say " I love that doll, but it won't fit into my family." Umm so then start a second family....

But whatever works for each person, works for me. Just don't whine to me later that missed getting that doll.

[Karie Chaos]

>->; Not me.... I'm a character first person. Ally my guys were characters looooooong before they were dolls. Its finding a sculpt that meets the characters looks that makes me go "OMG WANT!" If I didn't have a character for the doll, I wouldn't know what on earth to do with it!

[AmyAngel]

I've seen some dolls that I adore, but have no need to buy. Often it manifests as "not fitting in", so maybe that's what people are saying? Sometimes (not often enough for my bank account) a doll is just GORGEOUS, but I can't even imagine for a minute how it might work in my group, so I take that as a sign I should just admire photos from others. Usually I have a pretty good idea by time a doll arrives how it fits in and whether it will stay here or not. For a secondhand doll I usually have at least a basic concept before I commit to buy, and they usually solidify once I get them here and dressed. It's amazing how characters seem to condense out of nowhere when you're going through outfits and hair and eyes, and usually it's obvious what works and what doesn't, and then you sit them with the other dolls and suddenly it's obvious who they like, who they don't...

[Karie Chaos]

Not me... I won't order it unless it's already got a character waiting to be housed. Otherwise I'm just sitting there going "Duuuuuuuuuuur~......" Which is what I did with Liina for a few days when he was a total impulse buy. >->; Thankfully he worked out, but otherwise I would still be having this random doll with no name or personality going "What on earth will I do with YOU?" >->

If I ever get the Chase I am dying to have, despite the ridiculous price, I have no idea what I'm going to do with him. But he's poking at me for over four months.

[rikugou]

The first 2 dolls I got were characters I thought up, but the ones that followed were more 'OMG I want!'. I did usually have something by the time they arrived though. :sweat

[dumbbunneh]

I bought my Ju without really figuring out what kind of character I wanted her to be. Which sort of stressed me out, but I think in the long run, it's better than if I had something set in my mind. Whenever I spend time with her, I find out more little bits and pieces of her character.

[LotusMoon]

Most of the dolls I have fall here. There's just too much pretty to pass up! Once they arrive, is when I try to sort out who they are.

[Taco]

I have some that I bought without characters in mind, but it works better for me overall when I know who I'm buying a body for--I just tend to do the pre-existing character thing better.

[MusicCoexists]

I have three dolls I want to get with characters in mind...however, the first one I will end up getting is not even one of those three XD Just a ridiculously priced body that I decided I must have (It's only $88 before shipping for a 57cm girl!), which therefore needs a head, and a wig, and now I'm deciding that because it is so cheap I am going to attempt to dye it tan XD Just to get that out of my system before I ruin an expensive doll >.< So aside from all of that...she has no character behind her yet XD

[AmyAngel]

I saw that same body and thought... Hmm... no need for a girl, but maybe I could sand the boobs off... I don't think I'm going to go for it but I'm totally tempted. It seems to be only available in one color, if it was WS I'd probably have ordered it already.

[MusicCoexists]

That did bum me out that it was only in one color, but that also led me to the idea to try dyeing >.< I found some tutorials and now I am totally set on the idea, and therefore must get it out of my system XD At such a cheap price I would totally say go for it anyways! It looks like it's a pretty light color already and you never know, you might surprise yourself and actually really like the color in the end! XD maybe >.<

[Taco]

After just changing two of my nonpre-existing character dolls into two characters from my main story line I am amending my first response. I need to stick to pre-existing characters--I bond to them better and do more with them. This is the second time I've changed people around to fit into one of my two story lines, and it's pretty clear that I'm better with planned out purchases for specific people rather than spontaneous 'oooo pretty' purchases, lol.

[clefdecristal]

Just like some other people, I fell into the BJD "trap" by first falling for the beauty of a mold, and also, by reading some photostories that really got me into the hobby (I wanted to tell stories too!)
But I didn't really have characters in mind, just the idea "who would be good to be with ..." ^^;;;

[AmyAngel]

At such a cheap price I would totally say go for it anyways! It looks like it's a pretty light color already and you never know, you might surprise yourself and actually really like the color in the end! XD maybe >.<

I would, but my floating head is white, and is a bigger one... and is a boy and has an artist's faceup so he can't be blushed to match the body, and I know blushing lighter is really difficult and rarely works and would be a huge pain to do on a whole body (the other possibility is also white, and even bigger, and a boy, but could be blushed since I did his face). If I could find more info on what heads will fit/match it I might go for it, but I haven't found really any helpful info yet.

[sgtgeorgecarter]

The most I will have is a sketchy "something like this" idea but generally I wait till they arrive and reveal who they are. My ideas are not always theirs ;) (except for Speed Racer)

I go for sculpts and sizes I like and feel comfortable handling, or are such a good deal I just do it without thinking.

There's many dolls I enjoy looking at but oddly not so many that I'm willing to own.

[gelfling21]

I got my Kitsune with a very definite character in mind. Little did I know he already had his own character! LOL... He was supposed to have been Subaru Sumeragi from X1999 the Series (that particular version of Subaru; the Tokyo Babylon manga Subaru is younger and naive). But from the moment I got him I knew he would never ever be Subaru. He seemed to come with his own personality.

A rather pragmatic person might suggest that because he already had a face up, it made him seem to have a personality. Ha! He had character down to his toes and it has not changed even with the nice new body he got! So, yes, like others have expressed, they tend to let you know who they are -- sometimes even when you've got your own very definite ideas about it. I would not have it any other way!

[MusicCoexists]

AmyAngel: Well that makes sense, so I can see why you wouldn't go for it for that one. XD

I've been looking around and it seems that the body works best for 1/3 sized heads, the old body with their type of head included is 57cm, 54 without that head. It seems to be a pretty common size for 1/3 sized girls, and generally the 1/3 heads would work well for that particular body.

So far when I've found a head I like, I see what the measurements would be if I were to buy a body with it just to see if they match 57cm or something close >.< So really anywhere that sells 1/3 heads would work! It all just depends on what your looking for. ^.^ Hopefully that was somewhat helpful XD

[kittie98]

I normally have a general idea as to the character when I am buying a doll, sometimes that ends up changing.

[luluna]

The first bdj I bought (2006 Luts Delf Miyu) just because she was beautiful and I had never seen a doll like that before, she had a custom faceup and body blushing. I collected about 3 more bjd's before I saw a doll that suddenly spoke to me of a MC character in a book I’m writing. The doll was a Soom Namu. Another year or two went by before I got clothing that actually fit this character.

So not too long ago I’m looking at my bjd collection (seven dolls) and I see that four more of them fit other characters in my book. :oops The other two I still call by their factory names. One is a Volks Lucas the other a Elf EL.

In March I saw my first Akando sculpt (and fell in love) on an ebay auction and researched him and found this Resinality (and DOA) community and eventually… Iplehouse. Then I learned how many people have characters for their dolls…I had no idea people did this. I realized they could customize a doll, but not go into detail of character. I was intrigued. I ordered the Akando...my first non secondary market doll.

So I started out not with characters in mind, but the NS Akando I just bought I totally got him with my MC character in mind… just a more mature version. :kisses

[InvisibleWings]

Y'know, I go both ways. :sweat

There are dolls in my collection that I knew the moment I saw the sculpt who it was, long before I threw money to get it. There are others that kidney-punched my 'oooh, shiny!' button and jumped in my cart before I knew what was happening. Still others I bought intending to be a particular character, only to get the doll home and be told in no uncertain terms that he/she was most definitely NOT that character--and proceeding to hold out on me for months as to identity and particulars. :mad

There's nothing wrong with any of the above as long as you love the dolls and enjoy them. My favorite SD-size boy jerked me around for a long time on who he was, so I decided that he would be a blank slate, someone who traded his past to get into this world. That way I didn't have to know who he was before and could simply get to know him in the now. It worked out phenomenally well, and in time I did learn about that forgotten past and at least two other characters added themselves to the mix. :heart

[Saraqael2000]

I never have a character in mind before I buy a doll. I buy them based on how well I like the mold. None of my dolls have personalized names or character backgrounds.

[humblelulu]

Well, I bought my 2 girls with no characters in mind or names, I waited for when they came, as when I look at them, it either feels right or wrong. I came up with names fairly quickly. Although with locket i went through a few ideas, till finally choosing a name.
I started reading peoples photostories and it really inspired me to come up with character backing stories for my girls. (they already had personalities, just no story). So I've been coming up with those for the past month. I'm very un creative lately though, so they dont sound too amazing. lol.
I have another doll on the way, so I thought this time, I will try and think of it in advance. :)

[Wolfmammy]

I never have any idea about character or names when I buy dolls. It all comes out after they come home.

[dollsoflace]

Currently, I am seeking to buy but I don't have a story or personality in mind. I think of buying as a process of adoption but not quite. I don't really aim to buy to have her fit a character... but I do expect to be intrigued by her and I know that I will get "the feeling" when I hold her blank form in my hands. The only thing I know is that I want her to be a girl, about 40cm ish, and that I am going to do her face up myself [though no colors or specifics in mind.] I'm going to approach this like I do every single blank canvas I stare at.

In the end the vibe I get will guide me to color her face to fit the personality that I get the impression she has. Though I have a feeling she'll be a lot like me. To be quite honest, I would make the doll myself but it seems like a rather difficult process.

[Fango DeMaria]

There is only one doll that I had a character planned for it, and that was my Roxydoll Lucy. She became Odette, the daughter of another one of my dolls. I'm already planning for another doll, which when I actually put together the money and get her will be the second doll I've purchased with a character in mind. XD

[Cymorill]

The first few dolls I bought because I liked them, but now I only focus on my characters. This is more of a personal safegaurd because if I bought all the dolls I really love but don't have characters they fit I would have so many!!!

[MosaicWolf]

I have bought dolls to be certain characters, and I have added dolls to my wishlist and then found a character among the many I have had to try and fit with that doll. I have also added dolls to the wishlist or sometimes bought them outright that I didn't necessarily 'want' but that fit a character so perfectly that the connection was undeniable. And yes, I have been hit in the gut, and the pocket book, by the dolls I simply must have and am willing to find a personality for them once they arrive.

[HisLittleGirl]

Sometimes. That's how it happened with Pascal and Lyca, I fell in love with the sculpts and didn't have characters for them

[Ms Kittys Closet]

Hmmm...well with my first doll (sorry I think she is OT here) Obistu 60cm I just bought her because it was a good deal and it was my first doll, the only idea I had her for was to be a model for some doll clothing I designed. So she doesn't have a personality of her own yet. I'm not even sure what color hair, eyes or anything at this point that I am going to use for her. Pretty much I know she was going to be a chameleon kinda girl like myself, different looks, styles...but I guess I will wait to see what kind of personality comes out. As for my other dolls I bought them with a character already in mind, they have their own personalities and styles. Although I am eyeing another doll that I'm not sure what I would do with him, but I just love his mold.

[april]

I don't try to find dolls for my OCs. I go for the sculpt of the doll first and foremost when deciding to buy a doll.

After I have the doll I will always name them and give them some sort of character, but sometimes they remain very undeveloped. Other times they may inspire stories. But it's not something I tend to do automatically with dolls.

[Humbug]

My tiny didn't have a set character when I decided to buy one, and she still doesn't. She has a name and that's about it, but I still love her to bits regardless. :)

[dollieberry]

I honestly have nothing in mind about how I really want my first doll to be like except for the mold and a possible list of eye colors.

Once I try out some looks I might be able to be more creative.

[timid]

I have done this, and in every case they have either changed into an existing OC or made themselves a new one for an existing story. I'm another one who doesn't bond with dolls that aren't based on a character of mine. I also prefer to operate within limits - if I went by my "oooh, pretty" reactions I'd have about 300 dolls :p. "Oooh, pretty" + "He looks like he'd make a decent (insert name)" = me probably hitting the buy button.

[Keilee]

I don't have any already made-up characters, so the dolls will have to come up with their own. ^_^

[Ennui]

I seem to always love the sculpt then I come up with the character. There are a few impulse buys where I love the doll but even after they come I have no idea who they are going to be.

[Lucciora]

I don't even have characters for my dolls. Sometimes I wish they did, if anything they have strong personalities. Some are sweet, some are dark etc.

[Mayonaka]

It depends, mostly. I have a vague character for Miyu (but will working on it as I wait for her) and the same with Rheia. 'Course, I had to make a brand-new character for the both of them. And I'll need to decide on a character for Navi (DaisyDayes Moth) when she comes. :)

[Jesslynne]

I was looking to see if a thread like this was here, doesn't entirely fit with what I'd had in mind but it definitely works.

I fell in love with a head I seen in person, a Luts Juri B and had no initial plans for a character for the head - just knew I wanted it. So.. I went searching the market place for the head - owner of it mentioned seeing it up for $55 and I found it and bought it right then and there (though had a brief layaway thanks to Paypal) with no character in mind for her.

I begun to look through many pictures on DA to have an initial idea down before I even got the head.. and though it started as a hermpaphrodite character that I still sort of want in time perhaps... one of my first OC's (Actually it was my first ever created) screamed out for the head.. I'd already had a doll in mind for her.

Now I realize that doll that I had in mind was who she was back when I first created her.. BUT, who she is now is MUCH different. I had warped her to be a fantasy character to a self-assured, transgendered dominatrix.. and created a story around her in my head. I like thinking her as the 'me' I'd like to be sometimes.. and this form of Jesslynne wants the head vs the past form.

I may still get the past form because the two are sort of different character from what was the beginning and what's now.. but.. that'll be a long time coming I think.

[Aetheria]

I've only bought a doll without it being a preplanned (non-doll, but written) character once, and it was on impulse: an elf Chiwoo. I did fit a character to him from my story during his shipping time, though, so I dunno if that counts ~:(

[Dedra]

I buy dolls as dolls and determine who they are in person, so the answer to the title question is YES :D

[Windswept]

When I purchase a doll, it is during this period of time of waiting for the arrival, that I try to imagine what type of character the doll may be; then I try to get clothes to fit the character.

[Hugobopp]

I think that I am will be a character first person in the future. When I bought my Elfdoll Mir I saw him as sort of a modern pirate. Then I bought Hazy and the doll came completely void of personality. She was like a manikin, that I kept trying cloths on, until I started to see something.

This sounds funny, but I see Hazy as a sort of working mother. She looks best in modern, pulled together outfits and is always checking her Iphone.

>->; Not me.... I'm a character first person. Ally my guys were characters looooooong before they were dolls. Its finding a sculpt that meets the characters looks that makes me go "OMG WANT!" If I didn't have a character for the doll, I wouldn't know what on earth to do with it!

[pixieweed]

It's interesting, the psychology behind this BJD thing.. the 'characters' and 'stories' aspect.. I bought an Elfdoll Rainy Soah simply because I loved her the moment I saw her, but didn't have a character in mind at the time. Pretty soon she filled a vacancy as a particular character though, and is doing so very well.

[Wisteria]

I also bought my dolls because I fell in love with them. I've never had a character in mind. I just buy the ones that I can't resist :)

[Xorlia]

If I like a sculpt enough, I'll buy it and decide on character later. My Lazule was bought with a pre-existing character of my own in mind, but I've recently fallen in love with SOOM's Cass MD because she just has the prettiest profile, and is so unique. Someone on dA made a comment that she looked like a subject from a Botticelli painting, and I had to agree--so if I ever find someone selling her I'm gonna buy her and make her some Renaissance period costumes. x3

[Janne]

I have a few dolls I got to fit characters, but I mostly get dolls I like and let them "tell me" who they are.

[MisticUnicorn]

Usually for me the doll comes first and then I build a character around it :) I do have one exception to this though with my Night Elf, Sariah ;)

[Mirren]

The doll/head comes first since I don't shell characters. I like my dolls to take on different roles for different photographs and ideas so I'm looking for sculpts that have some versatility. It's also better if they fit in to some extent with what I have already or what I'm likely to do in future.

[Nikittin]

For myself, the doll always comes first, then their name and "story."

[Umber the Kid]

My first doll was bought with nothing in mind! xD Same for the 2nd, and the 3rd....

I see a pattern here.

But yes, I tend to buy and then think abot it. The 3 boys I am waiting for right now (yeah i'm crazy) have no really strong characters. I figured out my first boy's story and then tried to figure out how the new boys would relate to him. I don't think that I will ever mix my drawn or written characters with my BJDs.

[DollyGirl]

For me, I guess it was a basic idea that drove me to pick a certain sculpt but the doll had to "speak to me" once I had it in my hands. I've had my BBB Espree for about six weeks and she still doesn't have a name or a story. She doesn't have the perfect wig or eyes yet, either, and I think when she does the rest will all seem to fit better.

[Go Figure]

I do that. I'm mostly attracted to certain body builds and face types on doll. So I will buy a doll with a body and face I like, then find eyes and hair that appeals to me, and kind of just build up her character over time. Let her grow into her personality, if you will.

[dollblue]

Usually, I see a picture of a doll first. The character doesn't exist before that. But the moment I see the picture, the character comes to life. Then I buy the doll.
DZ Raphael and DZ Hid (not here yet) are different, though; here the characters existed long before I chose the molds.
And there is one confused character... but I wrote about her in a different thread already :sweat

[guls207]

I usually have a character in mind or an idea for a character when I get my dolls...if the dolls actually turn out to be that character is a TOTALLY different story! Lol! ;)

[Kressdan]

i was originally looking for an SD that would be a perfect model for photography, then i saw pictures of a DZ Annie in Mint on card inc. and i was like: O_o

two months later i'm holding a doll that i had no idea of a character for.

eventually she made one for herself. ^_^

[cydril]

Usually I just get dolls that I think are beautiful. Once they arrive to me their character and personality just sort of develop on their own:peace

[Sm.]

In the past, I bought most of my dolls with a character in mind, or I would fall for a mold and create a character for that doll before it arrived. Now I'm waiting on a LTF with no ideas about character or even a name picked out. I just wanted something small and cute.

[thepeachpeddler]

I usually fall for a particular sculpt first, then their personalities seem to develop on their own, once they arrive. For example... this Ante on ebay (with faceups by Leah Lilly) arrived, and honestly, even though the faceups were INCREDIBLE, I was thinking of letting her go again (because I have way too many Antes, already)... but then I tried a wig and some dark eyes on her, and BAM! She almost killed me with her adorable-ness. (?? not a real word??) So now I have yet ANOTHER Ante with her own personality.

She's my ASIAN Ante, and she reminds me of one of my best pals... but I had no idea she'd take that direction when I decided to get her from eBay.

[gakkuhai]

Yeah, I got mine because they were pretty. But lately I want to finally "find their personality"

[reesescups]

Yeahh usually I add dolls to my wishlist because I think they're pretty. I don't really have a certain character/personality for them in mind unless they are a doll from an anime/game/etc like Dollfie Dreams or some Volks dolls. Maybe when I have a doll of my own I'll be able to get more involved and think up a personality then.

[aekworks]

I have no character of the doll in mind, I just look for face and body to model the dress and clothes I designs, kind of using them as a model, but when I got them, their characters just start to develop and become their personality. They kind of growing with time I spend with them :)

[Epic-chan]

;; My TF Louis was pretty much an impulse buy...I don't even have a real name for her yet, let alone an actual character... *ashamed* "orz

[Tessalina]

To be honest when I first got into BJD's I came at with a business-like mind. "My dolls are mere props for me to make mini historical costumes." I had planned on just using her as a life-like model and that was it.

As I started looking at more blogs, forums, and photo stories my mind let go and a story flowed. Though my dollies are in processing I have named them (check out my sig.) and a pretty good story for Ay'Lah. Kachu is still shallow but I know where I'm going with him. Even as a kid at first I would be in awe of a doll for its awesome hair or cool outfit and then eventually all my dolls had lives and stories of their own. I guess it came naturally?

So what I'm trying to say is that if you dolls have a story before or after... whatever feels right for you is the way to go. ^_^

[violentdreambox]

Mostly I get dolls and then their characters develop. When I got Airi I never expected for her to turn out bossy or overly picky, but alas my mind got away from me and made her into a character I can't really believe is my own as I tend to shy away from high-maintenance traits in people.

[lylesenpai]

Isn't that hard?! But anyways, it just happen... Some people encounter that event where they tend to like a doll without even knowing what character would it create. In the long run, they just sell it when they get tired of it, it's another literal way of wsating a doll and the money.

[Trixa]

It's funny, because I plan out what characters will be what molds...and then never end up buying those dolls. When it really comes down to it, I tend to buy dolls on the fly. Sometimes when they get here they find their personalities, and sometimes they don't. Recently, I had a general look/idea for a doll I want to make, and currently have a head on the way for her. I'm hoping things work out, and she grows into herself when I have her all together.

[GrimVarda]

When I first started, I'd go with dolls whose sculpt I absolutely loved. Now it seems to be a combination of that plus an idea of who they're going to be in my head. I'm evolving O.O

[Osaka]

I have to admit that I have done a few impulsive buys, falling for a sculpt without having a character in mind. It's a bit of a challenge for me to bond with these dolls, though. I prefer knowing who is coming home! ^^;

[CathEtienne]

Actually, I never bother with perosnalities or characters. I buy dolls for aesthetical purposes and style concepts I have in mind.

I tried once working on 'character' but this simply isn't my cup of tea. I treaT dolls as personal eyecandies which fulfill my aesthetic needs. I do however joke around about my dolls behaviour - like one of them is a spoilt pricness, the other one is angry at me for somthing, etc, etc. But these aren't fixed features. It's more about briging life to them for a moment while I dress them up or take pictures. ^^"

So, well, if I ever see a doll I like so much to buy, it's because I have an image in mind of how I would have her painted, dressed and posed.

[sherri1993]

I don't usually come up with names or characters for a doll before I buy them. It's only when i hold them and look into their eyes after somewhat customising them that I manage to come up with their names. Character wise, I usually take things as they come. It's like discovering abit about someone everyday. It makes you look forward to spending time with that someone (or doll in this case) as you aren't sure what you'll uncover about him or her next. :D

[sailorstarsun]

I have both.
My first doll I bought and starting making the character while putting him together. Then after a year I decided he needed friends, and came up with other characters for him to play with, then started matching dolls with the other characters. In between shelling those characters, I've also fallen for other dolls and bought them without having a pre-determined character to go with them.
So it's about half and half for me.

[designermix]

I've only recently purchased dolls based on characters I have in my mind, but I still purchase dolls just because I like the sculpt. Some of them don't have characters or personalities, they're just part of the resin family. But some are a work in progress and I am slowly trying to create a backstory for them.

[Kihaku]

Well, at first I thought I'd buy dolls only as shells for my dolls, but it's been changing. There's so many pretty bjd:s out there, that are awesome and they don't fit to my charries.

So, the only logical thing is to make a char for them.

And I've been lagging with even that lately and I have couple of dolls just because theyre so beautiful and I haven't even thought what their character is like. :D

And atm, there's 2 dolls coming here without char and 1 which has a char.. So yeah. I buy them nowadays without char. :)

[Teruchan]

I always prefer to let my BJDs sort of evolve into their own characters. I have a ridiculous amount of pre-existing ones, but honestly, if I tried to make the resin bunch into those, I'd have to own a ridiculous amount of dolls. For my own personal sanity, I'm not going for that. Besides, I love seeing how a doll that I start planning one way, takes an entirely new direction after the wig and eyes arrive. ;)

[KnightJeran]

That's what I did for my very first (and only doll). I didn't know people normally had characters for their dolls. I still don't have one for my Layla, and I'm bad at coming up with these things, but I'm sure it will reveal itself sometime soon. That and I somewhat consider her as an "everything" type doll. :3

[DarkRu]

All of my dolls treated like that, without a personality until they come right into my hand ^^;;; but I do prepare name for them before

[JessiFlakes]

My first doll had a personality and a name before I had made the actual payment. My second doll was more of an impulse buy, and her personality kind of came out as she emerged from the box. My third and fourth were/are floating heads, and while my third has a definite personality, my fourth keeps changing rapidly- name, appearance personality, the WORKS change. I think I'm comfortable with who she is now, though it's COMPLETELY different from my original intention of buying her. My last doll, she had a personality determined, but she changed it a bit once she got here, as did my first doll. I prefer to have intentions rather than go in blindly to buying a doll, but I'm certainly not above doing so. ^^;

And like lolkat, I've had images of future dolls pop into my head, though they don't always have a determined personality either...

I don't buy dolls specifically to shell characters as some do, but I like giving them a personality and the like when I buy them.

[aleksloves]

I am notorious for buying a doll based on looks while not having a character in mind! i guess im really superficial when it comes to adding to my dollie family :p

[creamsoda]

I used to buy dolls just because I loved the sculpt. But I find now that I have a few they have to fit a character with a certain look I am trying to achieve or complete a couple before I will buy.

[Sethrea]

My dolls also evolve into characters themselves.
I can't imagine myself having a huge amount of dolls, I like to keep my collections concise not to get overwhelmed, so I prefer my dolls to play different characters rather than have a separate doll for each.

[RaChEltheRabidRabbit]

I have bought all of my dolls without having a character in mind unless you count me considering my SoOm MD Topaz - Honeydew as the Queen of all Fairies, otherwise I just get the dolls because of how they look.

If I were to get a doll based on a character I had in mind, I would want it to be a custom made BJD that no one else would have to make it really special.

[kcurry9]

I don't have characters in mind, and although I have had ideas about their eye and hair color and general style beforehand, they turn out to have their own ideas!

Recently, I was trying a new wig on my CP/Luts Nanuri06, and was absolutely floored to discover that I had an unintended and completely unsuspected character:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6360240767_ecaf848906.jpg

[SuniMoon]

Well, for some reason or another, I can't see a lot of my own characters as dolls.
... So my dolls are either bought because I like the sculpt, and I develop them a little from there.... Or they're bought to be my favorite character from a series I enjoy.

[Kideme]

For me, it's sort of the other way around. I'll come across a mold I really like, buy it, and then just invent a character or something. I like my dolls to look cohesive, so I know right off the bat the doll will have a black wig, and I have a bunch of extra eyes, after that, it's just developing a style of dress.

[Bama]

I may be the minority on this one, but I don't worry about the character of dolls. I buy dolls I like for the artistry of them, and whatever comes after that is a plus. I let the dolls be who they are, so to speak.

[yarn_and_cake]

I don't really have characters in mind as such. There are certain aesthetics I'm drawn to so I guess I'm attracted to dolls that I think fit those qualities. I've been stuck in the mid-90's goth look for, uh, quite a while and that's what comes out a lot. So I like making gothy outfits and the dollies wear quite a bit of goth, gothic lolita, and dandy stuff but I wouldn't really say that's their character.

[bunnykimber]

@kcurry9- the is completely awesome! Sheldon Doll= win.

I've only had one character planned for a doll, and it's the only non "normal backstory" doll. I'm shelling the character my boyfriend plays in a vampire LARP and I made that decision after seeing the sculpt. I typically suck and character creation.

[Iapetus]

I've never bought or considered buying a doll with a specific character in mind; instead I prefer to let the doll's character evolve after she arrives home and settles in.

The only exception is my possible pipe-dream of making a character doll of Rue from The Hunger Games.

-Kim

[rugdg13]

I will be getting my First doll in 2-4 weeks. And i don't have anything concrete yet. ^_^

And I didnt impulse by either XD.

I figure, I'll let her come to me, and Personality and finally a name will present itself to me when the time it right.

[Katrin]

When I was shopping around for the right doll I only had a very general idea, like that I wanted her to be an upbeat character. The rest of her personality developped after she arrived.
On the other hand, I do plan on making her I designed for other OCs. Even when I do, though, she's likely to remain her own character, just in a different setting.

[PannytheAngel]

I bought a doll with no character in mind, and I still don't really know his personality. xD I bought the doll because I loved the body so much. :D

[julidc]

I may be the minority on this one, but I don't worry about the character of dolls. I buy dolls I like for the artistry of them, and whatever comes after that is a plus. I let the dolls be who they are, so to speak.

I echo your take on this as well. I buy dolls based on what looks good to me at the time, and then think about where they'll fit into my existing BJD groups, or if they're destined to be stand alones. Sometimes, though a doll will "tell" where they belong from the first time I see them. Other times this becomes clear as soon as I debox them, and then there are occassions where a doll doesn't really fit in anywhere. If I decide I love the doll anyway, it stays, if not...I release it for someone else to adore. ;)

Juli DC

[SuniMoon]

I never buy dolls with OC's in mind. I have characters of mine that I love, but I can't imagine finding a match for them in resin. Especially since my favorite of my OC's has a prosthetic leg, and a difficult hair color and style to really match in a wig... A doll of her would be a major undertaking with heavy modding.

So I really just do better with spontanious purchases, and characters formed around them.

[applepai]

Yeah, i think i have to wait til they come...it doesnt matter if i have a character in mind (as with my first few) when i get them.. circumstances change and they become someone else entirely...
started with PKF Flora.... then i had to get Pukipuki Flora, then LTF flora, who ended up becoming LTF flora twins.... whilst puki and PKF flora are individuals...weird how it happens... i love having twins tho.. i think i have found a place for me.

[geishacookie]

I always try to figure out one before I buy a doll. I have bought a doll without a character in mind before, and it didn't go well at all. Not thinking of a character is how I get myself to not buy a doll, since I'd had bad experiences with it in the past. Its actually the biggest reason why I haven't impulse bought a littlefee chloe yet xD